Image
Many students gathered in a auditorium
Students listening during or Welcome Session.
Photo: Johan Wingborg
Breadcrumb

Introduction Days

In your first days in Gothenburg, there will be lots to do and absorb. This page provides information about activities for newly arrived students that are held at the start of the semester. The University Welcome Programme, social activities arranged by student buddies and student associations. There is also quite a lot of administrative tasks you need to take care of as a new student.

Welcome Programme

The International Student Welcome Programme is held at the beginning of each semester. The programme of events and activities provides international students with practical information about the University and living in Gothenburg. It is also a perfect opportunity to meet other international students and Student Buddies from all over the world.

We officially welcome you to the University of Gothenburg. You will be able to ask the presenters questions via the Q&A feature in Zoom.

Programme:

  • Welcome Speech
  • Student Portal and University e-services
  • Servicecenter and the GU card
  • Studies at the University of Gothenburg
  • Student health care provider Feelgood introduces their services
  • Student unions, what are they and why are they so important
  • Mecenat followed by Welcome Services
  • Swedish language courses
  • University Library

Autumn semester 2023
Watch the recording here:

Welcome Day 
or click the link: https://play.gu.se/media/Welcome+Day+autumn+2023/0_n094ufjf

Spring semester 2023
Date will be posted later in the autumn

Arrival Days

During the Arrival Days you will be dropped off at Studenternas Hus (Götabergsgatan 17), where you can pick up your Welcome Pack and chat with student buddies.

If you are an exchange student with a UGOT student housing contract or a contract from Welcome Services, you will receive your keys during the arrival days.

Dates for Arrival Days spring semester 2024 will be posted later in the autumn

This event takes place in the beautiful auditorium inside the University’s main building. There are no longer any classes taught there, but academic ceremonies and other special events are held there throughout the academic year.

During the day, we will tackle two main topics, starting with Swedish study culture. For this part of the programme, we hand the stage over to Oskar MacGregor, senior lecturer in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Skövde, and language advisors from our own Unit for Academic Language. Together they will shine a light on Swedish study culture, effective study techniques, academic writing in Sweden, and more. We are also pleased to be joined by current international students who will share their views and experiences.

The second topic is Living in Sweden. We are still in the process of signing on speakers for this part, but you can expect us to cover life on a student budget, life in Sweden with a focus on intercultural competence, and more. Of course, the current international students will be back on stage again to share their views and experiences.

You will be able to ask questions of the speakers and students after the presentations.

Spring semester 2024

Time  and date will be posted later in the autumn.

At the Welcome Fair for new international students, student organisations, university support functions and other activity groups are present.
Joining a student organisation is a great way to meet new friends, get to know the city and settle in to your new student life in Gothenburg.

Time and date for spring 2024 will be posted later during the autumn.

Pick up your Welcome Pack

The Welcome Pack is a tote bag with content, handed out exclusively to international students. If you see anyone with one of these bags out in the city, you have probably just spotted another international student!

The contents includes a map of the city, a University of Gothenburg reflective slap wrap, a list of things to do while in Gothenburg, as well as various information about, for instance, public transport and recycling. Some of the information is available in digital form only, via a QR-code.

Autumn semester 2023

You can collect your Welcome Pack from one of the University’s Servicecenters during their regular opening hours.

Opening hours for Servicecenter

 

Faculty organised welcome activities

Some faculties at the University also arrange activities for their students at the start of the semester. Individual programmes might also arrange orientation or introduction events. They will contact you via e-mail if that is the case.

Social events

The Student Buddies organise plenty of activities both at the start and throughout the semester in order to help international students settle in and meet fellow students. You can contact them if you need more information about student life in Gothenburg or if you want to know more about the different activities arranged for you.

Unimeet Gothenburg events

These events aim to welcome all new international students to the city of Gothenburg. They are designed to make you discover and experience the city while getting to know other students. Unimeet Gothenburg is a collaboration between the University of Gothenburg, Chalmers and the Trade and Industry Group at Göteborg & Co.